With an album under their belt and experience playing shows with the likes of Tune-Yards, Wye Oak, and Lotus Plaza, San Francisco indie pop quintet Social Studies were ready to test their own boundaries. The result is new album Developer, which finds the band streamlining their affairs — more focus on texture, on melodies, and on the songs themselves, so that every idea was fleshed out.

Curious to hear what that sound entails? We thought so, so we’re offering up a preview of Developer now, a week before its scheduled release date. After a listen or two to the album below, check out Social Studies’ November 2012 playlist to hear what the band’s been blasting lately.

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